Max Verstappen to start on pole at the Italian Grand Prix, despite Valtteri Bottas winning the Sprint qualifying race

Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix on pole despite finishing runner-up in the second-ever Sprint race. Valtteri Bottas won the 18-lap qualifying race but due to an engine change will start last. 

An action-packed start going into turn one

Lewis Hamilton was the favourite to be at the front come the chequered flag – but the Mercedes driver had a poor start that dropped him from second place to fifth, as Verstappen and the McLarens came charging past into turn one.

Pierre Gasly tapped the back of Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren going into turn one which tilted his front wing. The wing broke as he was going around the Curve Grande (turn three) and caused him to crash into the wall.

The rest of the race was unusually calm for Monza. Hamilton kept the pressure on Lando Norris for the whole sprint race but could not get pass.

Ricciardo back on the front-row for first time since 2018

Ricciardo finished third, and due to the Bottas penalty, will start the race on the front-row – in what will be his first there start since he put the Red Bull on pole in Mexico in 2018. His team-mate, Lando Norris, will start third as aforementioned.

The two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will start Sunday’s race fifth and sixth. Antonio Giovinazzi had another fantastic qualifying after finishing eighth and will start seventh.

It was a disappointing session for the Red Bull of Sergio Perez who finished the sprint race in ninth and will start eighth. Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10 and will start ninth, with Fernando Alonso inheriting the last spot in the top 10 for Sunday’s main race.

Verstappen extends championship lead over Hamilton

Verstappen extends his championship lead to five points after gaining two points for finishing second. Bottas gets the three points despite the engine penalty and Daniel Ricciardo picks up the final point of the session. 

By Charlie Parker